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This is a repost of an article from The Statement on Colorgenics written by Grace Jeffers. Check it out and see what your outfit is saying about you. It’s quite insightful! All photos are from my Blog. Special Thanks to Candace Thompson!!!

We all know that colors have a huge effect on our psychology. Interior designers are often met with questions of color and how they will affect the mood of a room. A bright yellow bedroom can seem energizing in the morning, but difficult to relax in at night, and studies have shown that light blue office spaces are more often described as “cold” by workers than those painted in warmer colors, even if the temperature of the two rooms are exactly the same.

So it’s no wonder then that those same color biases and messages translate to what we wear as well. Just what are we saying when we reach time and time again for that bright red sweater or those lime green shoes? What are we subconsciously trying to tell ourselves? What kind of message are we subconsciously sending to those around us?

Colorgenics is here to help us figure that out.

Colorgenics, written in 1987 by Steven John Culbert, analyzes the conscious and subconscious signals a person sends based on the colors worn on particular parts of the body. According to Culbert, each color has a connection with a natural element, which then speaks to a specific idea or emotion. For instance, green, the color of plants and trees, is connected with the concept of growth and regeneration. It is relaxing and restorative. Red by contrast is connected with the energy center of our universe: the sun. It can represent either strong physical energy or aggression, depending on its relationship to the other colors around it. Culbert dissects the body, identifying certain parts as having a conscious or subsconscious, mental or physical connection to our psyche. In turn what colors we wear and where on our body we wear them indicates something about our mental and emotional state.

While the book admittedly has some rather “New-Age”-like moments, the subject is irresistible. To that end we teamed up with Street Fashion Blogger Quentin Fears ofquentinfears.com, who was kind enough to give us five subjects he had photographed on the street in the past year. With Colorgenics in hand we set out to interpret just what their clothes might be saying about them.

A white, diaphanous dress worn on the inner portion of the body seems to communicate that this young woman considers her emotions to be pure and honest, while the bright pink coat she wears on the outside expresses her strong desire to share those emotions with others. She is wearing the same shade of pink on her lips, showing that she’s also ready to communicate those emotions effectively.

What’s interesting is that both her short black boots and the coarse woven texture of her coat speak to her desire for protection and security. Perhaps she’s willing to share her emotions, but only when she knows they’ll be handled responsibly.

Green, brown and blue, the three colors that dominate this gentleman’s attire are all connected strongly with the earth. His brown accessories: hat, belt, shoes and bag speak to his desire for material stability and wealth while his green pants and blue and green shirt and jacket might express his need for a regeneration of energy. Green worn on the lower portion of the body can indicate that the wearer is feeling rundown or drained, and is therefore trying to muster a reserve of strength. This is also reflected in his choice of vertical stripes both in his jacket and shirt. According to Culbert, vertical stripes indicate a desire to retain and confine the powers of those colors, in this case the restorative and relaxing powers of green and blue.

This young lady wears striking silver pants. Silver, while not a color in itself, is connected with white or the reflection of light. Wearing white colors on the bottom half of the body reflects a desire to be recognized and admired. According to Culbert, when women wear heels it expresses a desire to take risks and impress; to rise above others.

However wearing blue on the upper, emotional half of the body also expresses this young lady’s need for emotional support and reassurance. Perhaps today is a big day for her, and she wants to be admired, but is seeking support in the event that things don’t quite go her way.

This young lady’s pink, frilly skirt and light yellow top indicate that she is feeling both physically and emotionally secure in her surroundings. Wearing light pink on the lower half of the body speaks to the person’s compassion and connection to their physical self while wearing yellow, the color of rationality, on the “emotional” part of her body speaks to her ability to use a fair amount of reason and logic in her emotional life.

Her white, sporty shoes speak to her desire to be active and able to move. People who wear tennis shoes can at times be flighty, as they are always ready to make a quick getaway should the need arise.

Overall her colors give off an aura of flirtiness, adventuresomeness, and ease.

By contrast, the young lady in this dark mauve dress is expressing a connection both to brown and purple, two colors that can send a very mixed message when worn together. Brown, as in her handbag and shoes, speak to her need for material wealth and stability. Purple by contrast often speaks of a rejection of such values in search of a more philosophical mentality, pondering questions about the meaning of existence and rejecting the physical and material. Perhaps the combination of brown and purple in this ensemble indicate that this young lady is currently reconciling these two aspects of her personality.

Those who wear sandals are often taking a more relaxed approach to life, rejecting the stressors and pressures of society. However, Culbert also states that those who wear predominately brown are at times expressing their financial security and wealth. Perhaps this young shopper is having a spree on the town!

In case you’re interested in trying it out for yourself, we’ve given you a few keys below. We bet you’ll be spending the day interpreting everyone around you, just like us!

COLORS:

White: As the presence of all colors, white symbolizes completeness, purity, innocence and creation. In clothing it can also give off an aura of “look, but don’t touch”; a sort of distinction and separation from others.

Red, being connected with the symbol of the sun, is the color of energy and expansion. It can either be positive or negative in its expression. On the positive side, red can express physical energy and sexuality. On the negative side it can also express anger and aggression.

Pink: As the mixture of physical energy (red) and purity (white), pink is meant to represent a desire to share and be compassionate with others. It is the color of relationships and true love.

Yellow is the color of mental activity, knowledge, logic, learning, and mental growth. Lighter yellow indicates a purer thought process while dark yellow can speak to an ideological rigidity and closed mindedness.

Orange is considered the color of mental energy as it is the mixture of logical yellow and energetic red.

Green is the color of foliage and growth. It symbolizes healing and regeneration.

Brown, the color of earth, is connected with the material world. After all, without earth plants couldn’t grow! Wearing brown indicates a desire for material wealth, security and prosperity.

Blue is the color of emotions and relaxation. It can be both mysterious, as in the deep blue sea, or clarifying, as in sky blue.

Violet is the color of spiritual growth and philosophy. It represents the “higher side of man”.

Black is the color of mystery and of secretiveness. As the absence of color it is meant to hide or conceal.